Goodbye to New Zealand Part 2

On Sunday, we gained our hour, thanks to Daylight Savings (ending, I think Gavin assured me!).  We packed up all our stuff and checked out of the hotel, leaving our bags in reception for one last walk along the path into town.

Here are some photos of the walk so you can see how beautiful it was.  About 20 minutes of it were on the Queenstown trail, and the last 10-15 into town were along the waterfront and past the Queenstown Gardens peninsula.

The trail from outside our hotel

Kids out sailing on a beautiful fall day!

Across the bay you can see the Town Center

Some parts reminded me so much of England!!

It is definitely fall and the leaves are slowly changing

We had big plan to buy souvenirs, but that never quite worked out.  Even the Starbucks was sold out of the New Zealand mug we had wanted to buy - drats!! Apparently a popular item.  Instead, we had brunch at Halo and wandered around town, sending some postcards and taking photos of our favourite spots.  And the Cookie Monster.  :)

Who can resist the Cookie Monster?

The outside of the Eichardts Hotel

The statue of William Rees

 Then we decided to walk back to the hotel because after all, we were about to sit on a plane for about a day and a half, so we needed the exercise!!  Plus, it was another perfect Queentown day with cool temperatures and bright blue skies.

Walking back to the hotel 

Goodbye Queenstown!

Our plane was a cool black one, but I got told off for taking photos.  Drats!

 We flew from Queentown to Auckland in just over an hour and a half, then spent a few hours at Auckland airport before catching our plane back to LA.  The return leg wasn't quite as comfy, (don't get me started on the lack of leg rest on the premium economy seats!) and unfortunately, Billy didn't really sleep but at least it was quicker flying in that direction - less than 12 hours and we were there.

I can't believe it has been a whole week already since we left, but we have lots of great memories and photographs and if I get too sad, I will come back and read this blog to remember the stories.  Thanks for following along, everyone!!